Electrical panel board



Oct. 9, 1928.

1,687,319 F. L. BENZON ELECTRICAL PANEL BOARD Filed Jam 20. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4a Je IN V HV TOR.

A TTORNEY ed to Patented Get. 9, i933,

Unirse STATES Cita FREDERICK L. BENZON, OF IPLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRICAL PANEL BOARD.

Application ledJanuai'y 20, 1923. Serial No. 614,049.

This invention relates to electrical panelboards, and more particularly to a vpanelboard of the safety or protective type. j

One object of this invention is to provide a panelboard 'for distributing electrical current from two or more main bus bars into side branch circuits by means of knife or lever switches, mounted in such a manner under a protective -cover that they may be operated by an insulated handle extending through the protective cover. f

A further object is tol provide a panelboard of the above nature having springoperated quick-break branch circuit switchesadaptpositively open the circuit evenif the spring becomes inoperative.-

A further object is to provide a panelboard of the above nature having an improved .form of fuse holder and switch supporting-device.

A further obj ect is to provide a panelboard of the above nature with an imprcigedform of fuse holding device adapted to permit the location ofa defective fuse to be; determined withoutremoval or inspection of tl1 e. f 1ise itself. v p

. A further object is to provide@ papelboard of the above nature having aprotetm ,cover or covers to prevent possible danger@ shoc to persons manipulatingihe deii.- 5;,1 i@ A further object 's to .provide a panel xard of the. abovefnature so constructed that partsmay be readily replaced from the-front of the board without .removing tlie panel from the enclosing cabinet. A urtherobject isto provide adeviceef the above nature .whichwillbe simp1e,.che ap to manufacture, and very eiiicientanddurable in use. Vith these and other objects in view, there have been illustrated on the accompanying drawing two forms in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice,

Fig. 1 represents a perspectivel view o a complete panelboard involving the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalviews of one end of the panelboard taken through one of the fuse-plug sockets.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofone end of the panelboard, certain parts being removed for greater clearness.

Fig. 4 is a skeleton perspective view of one end of the panelboard, showing the operating parts in their relative positions, with the supporting blocks and base removed for greater clearness.

bus bars12 and 13 respectively,

Fig. 5 is a perspective View, with parts broken away, of one corner of a modified form of panelboard adapted to receive cartridge fuses.

, F ig. 6 is-a skeleton perspective view of a portion of the operating parts of the modified form of panelboard shown in F ig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 indicates a base ofinsulating material, vsuch as slate, adapted to support the remaining. elements of the device.' Thebase V..10 isnormallysecured in a vvertical position in a cabinet'placed either in 0i' i i pn partition. of a,. bu ilding,v as. lwill be hereinater more fullydescribed. Theelectrical current is delivered to thefpanelboard from three insulated 10?, 101?, 10g-whichare connected .t o' @central-bus bar .l1 and. two

.-side busbars12 .and 13,'said bus barsbeing supportedon theV base 10 in any suitable -i manner" afhysservs 13213213 =Mqi1nntediipqrr ,thebase 10 at the sides of holder andfswll'tch supports :14. and.i 15 prefi-perriedby' ll blockrs iS .clearly .Shwn onthe drawrngs,.or. if desiret'a plurality. of pairs offuse holders may beso carried. The

i. blinks :14;'i1`1idil-5ediie9d in Width at their j bQttOins andnuter' ends, and have vert-ical Y grooves 14 andv ifof rectangular section on .their lower faces adapted to itov'fer'the Outer .said grooves .14a and 15a serving toreduce thefdanger of short circuits to, the minimum.

Mounted ion .the tops of V the .fuse holder and switch supportslfi and 1.5 are a pair of insulatingcap .members 16 and 17 respectively, said cap members being secured to said supports 14 andiljin any suitable manner, vas by screws 17arwhich have vtheir ends secured within counter-boredA recesses 17", -Each of the cap' members 16 andl7 is provided with apair of'cylindrical holes 18, 18, viittirigaround threaded shells 19, 19, which form sockets for fuse plugs of anycoinmon type. The threaded shells 19, 19 are seated in recesses 19a, 19", in the fuse holder and switch supports 14 and l5. The caps 16 and 17, together withtheir associated blocks or upon' a wall f tliepanelboard; areaseries of blocks lor fuse 2 :arefipmferably I.

fuse holder and switch supports 14 and 15, will hereinafter be termed the"pedestals.

The cap members 16 and 17 are provided on their lower faces with slots 20, opening into the cylindrical recesses 18, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Electrically connected to the outer portions of the bases ot the shells 19, are a series of horizontal screws 21 which extend through the uSeholder and switch supports 14 and 15 and are threaded at their bottom ends to a series of outwardly extending base strips 22 seated under slots 22a formed in the liottoms'of the blocks 14 and 15. Each of the base strips 22 has a pair of up standing lugs 23, 23, on its side edges near its outer extremity. Between the side lugs 23, 23, each nase strip is apertured to receive a binding screw 24 under the head of which a branch circuit conducting wire 25 is adapted to be elan'iped. The intermediate portionv of each base strip 22 is secured to the base 1() by means of a screw 26, threadedl into the base strip, and having its head seated in a counterbored recess 27 in the rear surface O the base In order to close the edges of the panelboard,'a pair of side lbarriers 28,' 28, and a pair of top and bottom bariers 29, 29 are provided. Each of the; barriers 28, 29 is arranged at right angles to the ba'se'10 and is provided with a series 0f curved notches 29 in its inner edge, said notches vbeing in alinement with Athe l base strips `.l2 2 "a'nd A bridging the vbranch circuit conductingwire'sl25.' vThe inner surface of each side`barrier`28 i'sadapted to rest snugly against theoilter surface of the adjacent fuse holdeitand switchlsupport. Each of the threaded`v Ashells 19V is provided in its base adaptedlto tit around lug 31 on the'fuse'holder and said lug serving to prevent cal in shape', an upstanding switch support;

the shell 19 from turning. If'de'sired, the

shell maybe stiffe'ned'by means ofa washer 31, 'said washer also an elliptical laperture, in alinement with the' aperture '30.

The shell 19 has the inner"V side of its base cut. away to form a slotl 32 through which a conductingr strip 33 is adapted to' pass said strip having its inner terminal resting upon the lug 31t whereby it isinsulated from the base of the shell 19. The strip 33 is adapted te contact with the base'of' the fuse plug, not shown, when the latter is screwed into position. The strip 33 is held rigidly in position upon the fuse holder and switch support by means of a screw V34, and has its inner terminal bent upwardly at 35. -The upwardly bent terminal 35 fits within a hinge member 36, and is rigidly secured, as by a' screw 37, to the rear section 38 of said hinge member` the latter having' a. pair of'parallel resilient side arms 39 extending toward the center of the panel.

The side arms 39 of each vhinge member are provided with a pair of alined apertures to receive a pivot pin 40 for supporting the inner end of one of the knife switch arms 41. In order t0 form friction bearings for the knife switch arms, a pair of spring washers 42 are located on each pivot pin 40 between the heads 0f said pin and the outer surface of the side arms 39. The knife switch arms 41 of each switch are connected together near their midpoints by a cylindrical rod 43 of insulating material and provided with hollow cylindrical recesses at its ends, adapted to receive any suitable form of securing means such as expansion bolts 45.

The free ends of the knife switch arms 41 are adapted to slide into electrical engagement with a pair of switch jaws 47, 48, similar to the hinge members 36, previously described. Each of the switch jaws 47 and 48 is provided with'a base section 49 and a pair of parallel side sections 50,'the tips of which are slightly A'curved to 'permit the knife switch Varmsifto, slide easily theretbetween. The base section'of'each of the switch jaws 47 visrigidly'secured, as'by a screw 51, to an upstanding arm 52 of-a conducting base strip 53 which is relatively long and-extends across the panel behind the centralbus bar 11, said base strip Z53 being secured to said bus bar 11 by means ofthe screw bolt'13a previously' describedf Theswitch j awsv'48 are secured 4to-upstandving arms :54 oflirelatively shortconducting strips l55,- byimea-n's di si'rrev'vs 56.' The short :strips 55 have their extremities disposed undertlie erat'ingpafrts are'inolmted' o n fuse holder and switch Asupjgyorts "57,- vhaving fdetachablev fcap -meinbers582* Kttransverserib 59 is formed on the outer edge? f'each'of'the supports 57 and caps58,"`in order to prevent accidental contact between the resilient cartridge holding clips '60, 60, 61,761'. The upper cartridge clips'60, 60, as more clearly shown in Fig. 6,

are screwed or otherwise secured to the upstanding conducting strips 62, 62, the latter being rigidly secured to conducting rods 63, 63, arranged ara'llel to the base 10, and passing througli suitable apertures in the-fuse holder and switch support 57. The rods 63 have their inner ends connected'to hinge members 64,-similar in all respects'to the hinge members 47 and 48, previously described. A pair of knife switch arms 65, 65, are pivoted in said hinge members 64, 64, on pins 66, 66, heing frictionally held between the jaws of said hinge members by meanslof the spring washers 67. As in the case of 'the knife switch arms 41, 41, previously described, the arms 65, 65 are rigidly" connected by means of an insulating rod 68, and a pair of expansion bolts. f

Tn the modified forml of panelboard shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a pair of cartridge fuses 69, 69, is provided, said fuses having their upper ends in electrical contact with the upper clips 60, 60, and their lower ends in electrical contact with the lower clips 61, 61 The lower clips 61, 61 are secured, asby screws, to the inclined arms 70 of a pairof L-shaped conducting strips 71, the bases of' said-strips being secured to the base 10 in any suitable manner, as by the Screw bolts 26, previously: described. The outer end of each oi the Vconducting strips 7l isprovided with a pair of upwardly extending' lugs .71similar to the lugs 23, and thestrip'71isfprovided-with a binding screw 71", similar tothe screws 24. A screwv `71c similar to Athexscrew 26 is employed to secure thestrip/Y? 1l to thebaselV l lReferring again' to preferred embodiment'of the invention illustrated in -F igs. lfto 4, the panelboard is protected 'atthe vfront by means of a'ser'ies; of cover' plates ,72, 721,"arranged edge to edge. 'The 'coverplate's 72,72a extend horizontally across the` panelboard, and have their side edgesseated in shoulders 73 of the cap members 1 6 andi-75.1? Each of the cover plates- A72j is provided-with La' pair of alined horizontal slots 74 and7-5 tol receive n a pair of handles 76 and 77, said handles being vmade'jof insulating material and forming part of a p'air'lof switch operating members 78 and 79 respectively. -Each of! the switchop- "eraltin'g membersj78iand'79is 'mounted Ito roprojecting extensions 84'` seated'- Iin recesses formedi'n the shoulders-73 ofthe'capmem bers l6'anc`l '17,behin`df the-:cover plates 72, said anglel bar s "being securedtof said l" cap membersA by means* of screws 84, `las clearly shown in Fig. 2`.`-'The angle 'bars-82 andg83 are secured'to the'plates 72 andi 72a -bymachi ne screws 84", 84'.- Y y Y "-f f Eachfof the pivot pins 'has ahead on one end andis perforated'at'its otherf end to receive a Cotter-pin 85 which serves to lock the parts in operative positionu Each of the switch operating members 78 and 79 has a substantially semi-circular body section, the inner edge of said body section being provided with a slot 86 and an end lug 87, said lug 87 having a notch 88 adapted to receive one end of a spiral tension spring 89, the other end of said spring being connected to the cross-rod 43. The cross rod 43 has a limited sliding motion within the slot 86 so as to permit the operating member to rotate a short distance before it moves the switch arms. By means of this construction, it will be seen that during this initial rotative movement-of the operating arm, the spring 89 will be put under tension. As the operating member is further rotated, the spring 89 will suddenly come into action and will rapidly open the'switch. This automatic quick-break? action will occur when the friction between'the knife arms 41 and the switch jaws 47and 48 becomes less than the tension of the spring. Y

In order to permit the operator to determine the condition of the fuseplugs without removing them from their sockets, a series of holes 9 0, 90 is provided near-the edges of the pedestals. These holes'90, 90 are arranged in alinement withI the base strips 22 sovthat testing rods or wiresmay be inserted therein and may A berxbrought into electrical'contact therewith. In thisvway, if a fuse blows out or goes dead, it will be easy tol locate the trouble without examining the interior of each fuse.

The covers 7 2`at-the 4vendsoflthe panelboard "are provided'with'horiontal side vextension pieces 91 formed-'integral -itherewith-- to cover the space inside'the 'barriers 29. The corners ofthe panelbard areformed by four anglebrackets '92*having perforated' supporting 'ears 93 by -meansof which the panelboard'may be secured in a cabinet. Each of the anglef brackets 92jlhas af slot"94"lformed in` its edge,

l through' which extendsfa' screvv'95'. The screw 95 ca rries Aaf smaller" 'angle bracket 96 o'n its 'inner head end, said angle='men1'bers. 92' and :96 cooperatingcto i 'clamp' theextremities of thc adjacent barriers 28'and- 29:1'- The clampin'g actinfof the angle-#brackets fmay'beread- --Sily' adj usted 'bygmeansfof a 'nt972 threaded: on

the screW`95;-A` 'l '1 `Iniperati'on;"when it isjdsiredftofopen a closedswitcm the handle '7G-will befliorizontal- 1y? rotatedabout-its 'pivfot 80 until 'tlief cross "rod 43 isengagedby'the shoulderA` at'rthe'enjd f'O'f 'thefslot 86'. i 'L'Further Arotationv of: the Shar-idle Glwlllnowcause the switch to'start' to open, "and the switch blades 1-will move at the? same speed as the handle 76 untilthe tension/of .--the'spring-overcom'es theffrictorr between' the switch -armsand the switchjavvsg"V 'Theswitch -will then instantly yield'to the-force exerted iby" the springandwill"automatically open with greatsjgieed'fgthus reducing to thel minimumv the injury to-the electrical contacts duc 'tofsparking.'A r :11'- .r j-

f 'One advantage bf-this'zinve-ntion'is that the blades of the switch are at right angles to the base of the panelboard when the switch is closed. This permits the board to be made narrower than if the blades of the switch were parallel to the base in closed position. A further advantage is that the parts of the panelboard may be removed from the base without the necessity of taking the base out of its cabinet. This may be accomplished merely by removing the protective cover and the screws 17at and 21 whereby the knife switch arms, the switch operating members,

the caps, and pedestals may be readily taken ofi' whenever it is desired to repair or re` place parts.

Another important advantage of the above construction lis that in case the spring of any of the switches forl any reason should become broken or inoperative, this fact will not prevent the opening of the switch, as the continucd rotation of the handle of the operating member will positively open the switch independent-ly of the spring 89.

A further advantage of this invention is that the outer bus bars are-housed in a closed channel formed by the base and the slots a in t-he bottom of the fuse holder and switch supports. This results in a simple, compact construction, and reduces the danger of short circuits.

W'hile the panelboard herein illustrated is of the three-wire system, it will be understood that it is within the spirit of the invention to construct the panelboard with two bus bars or any other number of buS-bars.-

While therev has been disclosed in this specification two forms. inxwhichthe invention may be embodied, it isto be understood that this form is shownfor the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is not to be limited to thespeciic disclosure, but may be modified andi embodied in various other forms without departing fromits spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims'.

Having thus fullydescribed' theinvention,

what is claimed las new; and iorfwhich -it lis desired to secure Letters Patent -isi- 1. In a. protective panelboa-rd, :a base, a

pair Ao' fuse Eholder ,amd-,vswi'tch-supports, va slotted frame extendingfbet/,Weenksaidsu ports, a:knife' switch2(pivoted to each of said switch supports,. an Ll--wsvi'ritchfoperating member pivoted to saidfra-meand havvi-ng'a handleV extending throu'glrftheslot in said vframe. Tes? .zn

2. In avproteetivefpanelboard,a base, a pair of fuse holder 'and switch supports, a slotted -cover extending between' said supports, a pair of barsexte'nding between said supports, a knife switch pivoted to each of said switch supports, and a switch operating member pivoted to said bars and having a handle extending through :the lslot in said cover.

3. In a protective panelboard, a base, a

a stationary section fixed t0 said base, a 6U cross frame connecting said supports, and switch operating members mounted on said frame and having handles extending therethrough, said switch operating members positively engaging the movable sections for o pening and closing said switches.

-4. In a protective panelboard, a base, a pair of switch supports mounted on said base, -a switch associated with each' of said switch supports, eachswitch comprising a 7n movable section pivoted to one 0f said supports and a stationary section fixed to said base, a cover for said panelbcard located between said supports, bars under said cover secured to both of said supports, and switch 75 operating members pivoted on said bars, said switch. operating members having handles extending l:through said cover-and between said bars, said switch operating members positively engaging the movable sections of said switches for. opening and closing said switches. v

5. In a protective' panelboard, a base, a fuse; holder'mounted on said base,a switch member pivoted to said fuseA holder, said B5 switch member lying at rightan'gles to the base when the'switch is closed, and means to confine said switch member within a small angle from its ,closed position when the switch is1open,`w'h'ereby said` switch may be 90 assembledclose 'to another similar switch.

16; In :a protective",panelboard, a base, va

stationary :switch c'ontact member secured to (said b'ase,aV fuse-.holden mounted en -said ,base, -said useholder-having'aswbch wiper 95 armA-pivo'tedr ,thereto vertically abovefsaid lContact member and-adapted to' pengagesaid switch contact member, means pivotally con- -nectedto said-fuse holderforoperating said switch .wiper arm, said switch wiper-arm be- 100 ing at right angles to said base when the Vswitch is closed, and means providing that the switch member shall lie at a small angle to its closed position when the switchtis open.

In testi-mon .where`0f,-.I have .affixed my 105 signature tot s specification.-

FREDERICK L. BENzoi-I. 

